Here’s How To Make Sure A Work-From-Home Job Isn’t A Scam

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you’re trying to make some extra money, working from home can be a convenient and easy way to earn an income without having to change out of your jammies. But if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are definitely legitimate work-from-home jobs out there, but not all jobs are created equal, and if you’re starting on a new endeavor, you’ll want to make sure you’re protecting yourself and that it’s worth your while.

So how you can you tell if a work-from-home job is legitimate or a scam? Luckily, there are a number of ways you can gauge if a job is real or not. Here are a few things to look out for:

1. Visit the Better Business Bureau

The BBB has a Scam Tracker that helps people report scams that they’ve encountered. You can search the name of the company on the website, where you can find a description of the company as well as a rating. Not all companies appear on the BBB, but if you see it there with a good review, you can rest easy that the position is OK to pursue.

2. You’re Asked To Pay Money Up Front

If you have to send someone money, that’s an automatic red flag. You should never have to pay anything up front, and no one should ever have access to your bank account.

Some work-from-home scams will use real company logos to make themselves seem legitimate. Check the URL of the listing to make sure it matches the company’s real website. For example, it should say target.com, not target.jobs.com, which is likely fake.

5. The Description Is Vague

If there’s not much info, the description is blank or the wording is generic, that’s never a good sign. Real jobs provide detailed information.

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